Public picks Blackburn landmark’s future

The Victorian-era conservatory in Corporation Park that has been closed to the public for the past 10 years could finally be reopened, under one of three possible futures guises.

The initial consultation on the future of the conservatory drew a large wave of responses from Blackburn residents last year, with over 1500 people weighing in on how the structure could be used to the benefit of the borough.

These responses have led Blackburn with Darwen Council to bring forward three proposals for how the historic Grade II-listed feature of the park could be used going forward, once the glass, timber, and cast iron framed building has been restored.

But with the authority estimating that any renovation of the conservatory will run into the multi-millions, and with the previous consultation revealing the strength of feeling that Blackburn residents have for the building, the public are being asked to pick one of three options for its future use.

Finding a definite use for the Corporation Park Conservatory is essential to securing the funds for its restoration, as previous bids for National Lottery funding in 2015 fell through after the bid failed to show a sustainable use for the structure going forward.

This led to the council closing the public building in 2016 over concerns that it could collapse, with experts stating that a single heavy snowfall could prove catastrophic for the main canopy of the listed glasshouse.

However, with it lying empty, the conservatory fell victim to repeated episodes of vandalism in the ensuing decade, which saw its glass panes smashed and rendered the building unsafe.

By late 2023, this led Historic England to issue emergency guidance for the overhead glass in its east wing to be removed, to lower the risk of structural collapse from a heavy snowfall, with all of the conservatory’s rare plant collections later being removed in 2025 and translocated to Myerscough College.

While this work to strip back the much-loved landmark, jointly funded by the authority and Historic England, helped to prepare the site for a later renovation, Blackburn with Darwen Council now needs to decide on the best use for the conservatory if it is to secure National Lottery funding.

These options range from restoring the conservatory back to the original form and use it was built for in 1900, to leasing the structure to a business for commercial use, such as a tearoom.

The three options that the council and heritage group Buttress is asking the public to have their say on are as follows:

Restoration

Description: A flexible community space for workshops, educational visits and local groups, with opportunities for smaller pop-up events. This option would focus on restoring the Conservatory as closely as possible to its original form, although a small extension or alterations may be required to provide facilities such as toilets and storage.

Benefits: Maintains strong public access and supports a wide range of community activities.

Challenge: The long-term success of this option would depend on regular room hire and consistent bookings to generate enough income for ongoing maintenance.

Event & Botanical Venue

Description: A dedicated venue for weddings, events and functions, surrounded by restored botanical displays. This option would include a fully restored Conservatory alongside an extension providing the facilities needed to support events.

Benefits: Offers the strongest income-generating potential, helping to fund high-quality maintenance and planting while continuing to provide public access and community activities.

Challenge: Public access would sometimes be limited during private events.

Commercial Partner Model

Description: Leasing the Conservatory to a permanent business, such as a restaurant, tearoom or horticultural enterprise. This option would require alterations or an extension to support a long-term commercial use.

Benefits: Provides a reliable rental income, financial stability for the Council and ongoing maintenance of the building.

Challenge: The Conservatory would become a customer-focused venue rather than a purely public space. Any proposal would also need to demonstrate significant public and community benefits to be eligible for potential heritage funding.

Blackburn with Darwen Council is calling on anyone with an interest in the conservatory’s future to take part in the survey now.